Cutting block



`hme 24 1924. 1,499,015

H. M. GUSDORF CUTTING BLOCK Filed Jan. l1. 1923 Patented .lune 24, i924.

'narran srlarss HAROLD M. GUsDoR-F, or

NDIANAPOLS, INDANA.

CUTTNG BLOCK.

pplication filed January 11, 1.923; Serial No. 611,982.

To all 'whom t may concer/1t.'

Be it known that HAROLD M. GUsDoRr, a citizen of the United States, residing at ndianapolis, in the countyof Marion and State of lndiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in ACutting Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to cutting blocks upon which leather and other materials are cut by a knife forced through the material into the block. This may be done by a power machine or b a manually operated mallet acting on the rnife.

In the leather and shoe industry leather is cut into blanks on a die-cutting machine which forces sharpened steel dies of the required shapes through the leather held on a cutting block, and leather is cut into blocks and strips by the use of a long straight knife in a stripping or chopping machine operated by manual or other power. ln all methods however, the knife goes through the material to be cut, laid on a cutting block, and the knife must either touch the cutting block or be pushed into it more or less deeply to completely sever said material.

Blocks for this purpose are usually made of wood, but they are also made sometimes of a fibre composition. The wooden blocks are commonly made 0f many pieces which are bolted together in a manner that the ends of the grain form the cutting surface when planed off smoothly for that purpose. Continuous forcing of a knife into such blocks causes an accumulation of fine wo0ddust t0 form, and gradually the block becomes so roughened that it has to be planed smooth again. The repeated contacts between the knife and block also dulls the knife.

The object of this invention is to provide a cutting block which will be suitable for cutting all materials against, and which, first, makes the cutting operation easier; second, insures a sharper and cleaner cut; third, obviates the necessity for frequently planing or dressing off the cutting surface of the block; fourth, prevents the dulling of the knife and keeps it constantly honed and sharp, and fifth, prevents the formation and resulting accumulation of ne dust on or about the work.

l accomplish the objects of the invention knife.

by -means illustrated in the acompanying drawing, in which- `Fig. l, is aview in front elevation of a power-driven stripping machine having my invention operatively installed as a working part thereof. Fig. 2 is an end view of a cutting block of my invention showing the knife in its position at the end of a cut. Fig. 3 1s a like view showing the knife in raised ,position away from the block, and Fig. 4, is

a' viewin side elevation of a block having a cutting portion formed out of two layers of leather instead of a single layer, as in the preceding views of the drawing.

My preferred practice has been to make a block 5 out of oak wood rectangular in cross section and as long as the knife or a little longer which is laid flat side down on a metal bed-plate 6, with the grain of the wood at right angles to the travel of the This block is retained by the usual clamps 7. On top of blocky 5 a layer 8, of pigskin leather, suitably tanned for the purpose and substantially of the same dimensions as said, surface, is laid and retained by glue or other adhesive so there will be no buckling or puckering of the layer 8, while in use under the action of the knife. A knife 9, guided by standards 10, 10, is reciprocated by any usual and suitable means, such as that illustrated in Fig. l, and may and generally does enter the layer 8 passing partly therethrough to completely sever the leather material or other material laid out fiat on the surface 8. The grain side of the hogskin is preferably turned out into contact with the work. The elasticity of the hogskin resists the knife enough to insure a clean cut of the material and lift the severed edges away from the knife and cause the edges of the cut in the hogskin to rub the knife and hone it in a manner to keep the knife constantly in a sharpened condition.

The yblock 5 may be made in various shapes and proportions and out of many materials without departing from the spirit of my invention, and while hogskin leather has proved to be the best and most durable surfacing material to cut against or into I do not wish to limit my invention to'hogskin but desire instead to include all materials that will serve as a cushion for the cutting instrument without being disintegrated by it, either in a single layer or in kpended claims.

a plurality of layers as shown in Fig. 4 and as Will come Within the terms of the apktherefor` of hog-skin leather adapted to receive the sharp edge of a cutting instrument and absorb the shock of the cutting impact.

2. In a cutting block for the'purposes specified, a base of Wood or like tenacious and solid material, and a cutting surface therefor of hogskin leather to receive the sharp edge of a cutting instrument and absorb the shock of the cuttingimpact the grain side of the leather being turned out into contact with the knife.

3. In a cutting block, a Wooden base with the grain substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the cutting instrument7 said base being covered with one or more layers of hogskin leather to form a cutting surface.

Signed at Indianapolis, Indiana, this day of January, 1923.

HAROLD M. GUSDORF. 

